Radicalis Blog

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Personal Change Testing the link updater

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:00:00 GMT

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Personal Change Testing the link updater

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:00:00 GMT

content

Personal Change Testing the link updater

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:00:00 GMT

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this is a test of the blog system v2

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:00:00 GMT

test

Generation Ex-Christian: Why Young Adults Are Leaving the Faith

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 09:41:00 GMT

I just finished Drew Dyck's book "Generation Ex-Christian: Why Young Adults Are Leaving the Faith.and How to Bring Them Back."� I've been involved in college ministry for eight years, and I recognize that young adults are continually leaving their faith, but this book explored why they do.� In fact, "Generation Ex-Christian" is the first research-based book that thoroughly explains the whys of leavers.� I had a hard time putting it down, because as I read, names of friends who have walked away from church or their faith on some level or another kept entering my mind.� This book broke my heart for college students who once knew and loved Jesus, but for one reason or another, left him in the dust as they transitioned from youth to adulthood.

The book is well-organized and easy to read.� The contents page easily shows how the book is broken down into six main sections; each section highlights a type of leaver and explores the thought, pain, childhood experiences, sin, or confusion that lead them to decide to dismiss Jesus.� Dyck identifies six main categories of leavers-postmodern leavers, recoilers, modern leavers, neo-pagans, rebels, and drifters.� Each section ends with practical steps that we can take to speak to, reach, and engage with leavers.� Armed with an understanding of why they left better equips us to address their specific concerns.

For example, I now realize that I should avoid arguing the legitimacy of the gospel based on reason with a postmodern leaver, because they don't believe reason is the way to truth.� Instead, I can build trust with them by inviting them to serve with me, because many of them are socially conscious and very concerned for the marginalized and poor.

I now understand that recoilers have often tragically suffered abuse in the name of God, and when they felt wounded by God, decided he didn't exist.� They also were hurt mostly in the context of relationships, so healing must also come in that context.� My best approach in caring for them is to empathize, not argue, and to point them to the cross, a symbol and promise to all who suffer that even the worst injustice can lead to redemption.

I see that modern leavers abandon their faith for intellectual reasons.� They love to debate, they love objective truth, and they love rational reasoning.� To reach modern leavers, I must do my homework and be prepared to give good answers to questions about my faith, listening to them and asking questions about their worldview in the process.

I understand that Wiccans (or neo-pagans), have been heavily influenced by feminism, the environmental movement, secularism, and consumerism.� They are also enraged that Christians spread false rumors about them-that they worship Satan and sacrifice animals.� So I should communicate a familiarity with their beliefs, demonstrate a care for creation and the environment, and highlight women in ministry as we share spiritual experiences.

I know that moral rebels just want to party and have a good time, and spiritual rebels don't want anything to do with submitting to an all-powerful deity.� Rebels value their autonomy.� I see that underneath their rebellious behavior is a thirst for adventure and purpose, and I can show them the adventure, sacrifice, and risk of the gospel while demonstrating the freedom that comes from serving God.

I now recognize that some young people just drift from their faith gradually, almost imperceptibly.� Drifters learn spiritual truth through atmosphere, so I know to invite them to places where they'll hear the gospel and be around other Christians.

Figuring out why young people walk away from Jesus is key to learning how to effectively adapt our approach to connecting with them.� After all, Jesus never approached two people the same way.� The gospel doesn't change, but the way we share it should.� This book has given me a ton of insight into understanding why so many young people are walking away from a God they once knew, loved, and worshiped.� It's also helped me feel equipped as someone involved in college ministry to engage and care for those who have stepped away from their faith more effectively.

I also appreciated that Dyck pointed out the importance of prayer in this book.� "I'm convinced we can give our loved ones who have strayed no greater gift than time spent in the presence of God on their behalf.� Please, ramble, cry, rage-but don't stop."� When we pray for prodigals, we are praying according to God's will.

Dyck's introduction of the book includes speaking about the parable of the sheep, and that the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to search for the one that wandered away.� It's a great illustration of God's heart for the lost.for those who have wandered from him.� This book will help us in our pursuit of those lost sheep.� More than sheep, the book is about the Good Shepherd, and that ultimately it is HE who deeply cares for them and longs for their return.� May we search for those wandering sheep who are dotting our communities, and take heart knowing that the Good Shepherd is already searching for them.

It Won't Happen To Me

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 09:38:00 GMT

Most of the time we aren't na�ve enough to say the five words, "It won't happen to me.", but more often than not we live like we believe the phrase is true. Last year nearly a million people ages 15-24 believed that they would not become HIV positive; yet they were wrong.*

Although HIV & AIDS have been around for 30 years, many people still do not know the basic facts about how HIV is transmitted and how it can be prevented. HIV is transmitted through sexual contact, needle sharing, childbirth, breastfeeding, and blood transfusions.

Generally sex, drug use and disease are not topics that are talked about in church; but this must change. Millions of people are becoming positive with a preventable disease that will take their lives if they do not have access to live saving medications (ARV's). Even when people do receive the costly medications, the side effects are brutal and often leave people feeling very weak.

Churches are in the best position to come alongside and care for people who are sick. Jesus spent much of His ministry showing us how to be with people who are hurting and sick. He didn't only talk about caring for the sick- he went into their home and healed people, he stopped and cared for them on the road, and he paused while he was teaching and met the real physical needs of people. Jesus did this to show us how he wants us to interact with people who are sick and hurting as well.

In addition to caring for people who are sick, churches have the ideal role to talk with people about saving sex for marriage, teach men and boys to respect women and children, offer drug and recovery support, and talk about partnering with one person for life through marriage. While each one of these areas is difficult, it becomes easier when there is the loving support of others who are also committed to ending AIDS.

While it is true that, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step," (Lao-tzu) it can often be hard to know what first step to take. One really practical first step churches can take in helping end AIDS is to encourage people to get tested for HIV. The only way for people to know their HIV status is to be tested. Church members can become certified HIV testers, or churches can partner with local HIV testing sites, and can hold testing events at their local church. Churches can also encourage people to go together to a local testing site and get tested together. (To find a local HIV testing site go to www.hivtest.org and enter your zip code.)

We really can live in a world that is free of AIDS where people will no longer need to naively believe HIV & AIDS won't happen to them; it won't happen to them because, if we all work together, HIV & AIDS will become a disease that has been eradicated!

Watch this video about two college guys who went to get tested for HIV.

Click Here to Watch Video

*Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation - Report on Global AIDS Epidemic, November 2011

A Life Surrendered

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 06:24:00 GMT

Your life will declare the value of something. Just follow the trail of your time, money, attention, affection, and thoughts, and you'll find it-the things you value above all else, the things you worship. Worship is an activity of the human heart; it's never a question of if but rather what you worship. Your boyfriend, girlfriend, job, pleasure, fame, success, acceptance, materialism, power, prestige, appearance, reputation, wealth.What is it that has captured your heart as being supremely valuable?

There are people and things in this world that are important.but they are not things to be worshiped. Colossians 1 speaks directly to this:

"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see-such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together."

Colossians 1:15-17 NLT

If we're honest, we'll admit we have a tendency to settle.for what's convenient, comfortable, or popular. But when this happens in our worship, we end up spending our lives focused on things that don't really matter. Worship of lesser things is like inducing yourself into a coma that numbs you and isolates you from the life you could live. You're alive, but you're not living. So the obvious questions that emerge are.Are we living in the reality of God's supremacy? Is God supremely valuable to you?

Because if he is, then he's worth giving up everything for. He's worth handing over the controls of your life to. He's worth us saying to him, "Whenever, wherever, however.we are yours, God."

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Ephesians 2:1-10 NIV

And what are those good works for? Jesus tells us:

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16 NIV

Surrendered means God has your attention.

Surrendered means you seek to hold nothing back.

Surrendered means that what he cares about, you start to care about.

Your life will declare the value of something.and when that something is God, your life will show others just how amazing he is.

Leading Like Jesus

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 07:51:00 GMT

Who comes to mind when you think of the word "leader"?� People with higher salaries and assistants and more authority and influence than you?� Power suits who fly first-class?� People who are respected and who are listened to?� People other than you?

Check out the examples that Jesus gave us:�

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.� I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.� I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.� John 13: 14-16

The greatest among you will be your servant.� For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.� Matthew 23: 11-12

It's easy to slip into a place of comfort as students and think we're above serving, or to think that someone else will get it done.� We think we�don't have enough time or money to do the things we picture ourselves doing to serve others in Jesus' name.� During those times, God has a way of reminding me through others that serving is the most powerful way to lead-I'll see my senior pastor being the last one to leave after a long event, a worship leader helping with tear-down, or a volunteer sitting and praying with someone.� These are true acts of humble leadership, motivated out of a desire to help others and love genuinely.�

In God's economy, leadership and servanthood are synonymous.� People who are power-hungry and authority-obsessed might think twice about becoming God's definition of a leader, because it wouldn't sound too exciting to them, would it?� It might mean serving when it's not fun or convenient.� It might mean sacrificing something precious to you, like your reputation or time.� It might mean doing something menial and "beneath" you, like picking up trash or staying late to stack chairs, or.washing other people's filthy, smelly feet.� Jesus set the example of how to lead.by serving.� And the leader that he is calling us to be will require things of us.

When you help someone out, don't think about how it looks. Just do it-quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.� Matthew 6: 3-4

So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover's life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.� -Philippians 2: 1-11.

Servant leadership isn't restricted to interns or volunteers, part-time or full-time staff, secretaries or senior pastors.� It's not limited by our age, or resources.� It's only limited by our reluctance, our pride, our doubt.� Regardless of where we are, what position or title we have, we need to choose to have an "others first" mentality and value others above ourselves; it is with this attitude that we can serve humbly, without seeking reward or recognition, and "make Jesus Christ attractive to all."�

God, help us serve in a way that others might experience your heart.� Not to us, but to Your name be the glory.

this is a test of the blog system

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 03:57:00 GMT

test

Personal Change v2

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 03:49:00 GMT

This is the content.

Personal Change

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 03:48:00 GMT

This is the content.

Raise a Shout!

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:00:00 GMT

The more I read in the book of Psalms the more I realize that we as followers of Christ shouldn't keep Him and His perfect love quiet... we need to SHOUT! We need to DANCE! We need to SING! We need to let the whole world know that Jesus SAVES!

"SHOUT for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before Him with joyful songs."

Psalm 100:1, 2

"Sing to the Lord a new song,

for He has done marvelous things;

His right hand and His holy arm

have worked salvation for Him."

Psalm 98:1

"I will sing of Your love and justice;

to you, O Lord, I will sing praise."

Psalm 101:1

"Praise Him with tambourine and dancing,

praise Him with the strings and flute."

Psalm 150:4

All of these verses aren't telling us to remain quiet and seated...but to jump for joy and sing, dance, shout, praise the Lord for what He has done for us and continues to do in us and for us! How can we stay silent?! How can the world know that they can have a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ if we don't tell them! We should shine like stars, we should be a lighted town on a hill... we should draw people's eyes in, we should be lights...shining through this darkened world, lillies among the thorns...followers of Jesus among the world. Jesus Christ is not of this world, and we shouldn't be either. But we are called to be in the world. We must speak up and LOVE like this world has never seen. We need to raise a shout, stir it up, and LOVE eachother.

We are, we in desperation

We need to reach this generation

We are speaking louder than before

We have the love that will be brought and

We are speaking louder than before

Key word: WE - this can't be done alone. WE need eachother, the Body of Christ to reach this world... God didn't give us such a huge commission/task to do alone... we all need eachother and we all offer something to help and build up the Body of Christ

There are people walking ALL around the world with NO PURPOSE. They are living for themselves or living in hurt, pain, suffering... Let's be the light, let's be the stars, let's show them JESUS. The way we live our lives is what we think about Jesus... People will know we are His followers by one thing... the way we LOVE.

How do you show love? Is there someone you know that doesn't know Jesus? Show them that LOVE - put them first... OUT DO them in love (Romans 12:10 - ESV)

Let's raise a shout and let all the world know that Jesus saves!

Shout for Joy!

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:00:00 GMT

Blind Will See

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:00:00 GMT

The lost are found
The blind will see
The lame will walk
The dead will live
And You are God
Forever You will reign

These lyrics were sung during a service one time and I wondered how many people singing them believed it. Do we believe that the lost will be found? Do we believe the blind will see? Do we believe the lame will walk and the dead will live? Do we believe it?! The Lord is calling us to be a generation of radicals... We are called to be a generation of radical faith.

Rick Warren says "Faith is thanking God in advance." When you pray, are you praying with a single ounce of doubt? In Mark 11:24 Jesus says, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Let's be a generation that prays IN faith! Thank God for finding the lost, thank God for healing the blind and the lame, thank God for raising the dead and bringing life to them, and thank God for always reigning. We must believe His promises and His character, with everything in us! God's Word does not fall to the ground or return void, it ACCOMPLISHES. "so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11) Rest in the promises of God and believe them. Believe that He is good and that He loves you.

Do you know how much He loves you?
When you despised, beat, rejected, and killed Him...THAT is when He died for you! (Romans 5:8)
Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
His love for you does not change, it is the same always.
Do you believe that He will bring everything He started in you into completion? (Philippians 1:6).
Do you believe that He has a purpose for you and that it is good? (Jeremiah 29:11).
Do you believe He wants to grant you the desires of your heart? (Psalm 37:4).
Do you believe that He hears you when you pray? (Psalm 18:6)
Do you believe you can do the impossible with God? (Psalm 18:29, Mark 10:27)

The first step in carrying the hope of Jesus Christ into a broken world and telling people about Him is by believing Him and receiving Him first ourselves. Our testimony will be much more powerful if we live and walk in these promises and truths. The better we know God, the better we will be able to tell others about Him. How thankful are you that we have the Bible to tell us about God? How thankful are you that we have Jesus Christ, who made the invisible God visible! (Colossians 1:15). Press in to God's Word, daily, continually...seek His presence and His strength everyday (1 Chronicles 16:11). That is how we mobilize ourselves to be a generation going into the world to spread the hope, love, and salvation of Jesus Christ.

Blind Will See

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:00:00 GMT

Lost are Found

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:00:00 GMT

The lost are found
The blind will see
The lame will walk
The dead will live
And You are God
Forever You will reign

These lyrics were sung during a service one time and I wondered how many people singing them believed it. Do we believe that the lost will be found? Do we believe the blind will see? Do we believe the lame will walk and the dead will live? Do we believe it?! The Lord is calling us to be a generation of radicals... We are called to be a generation of radical faith.

Rick Warren says "Faith is thanking God in advance." When you pray, are you praying with a single ounce of doubt? In Mark 11:24 Jesus says, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Let's be a generation that prays IN faith! Thank God for finding the lost, thank God for healing the blind and the lame, thank God for raising the dead and bringing life to them, and thank God for always reigning. We must believe His promises and His character, with everything in us! God's Word does not fall to the ground or return void, it ACCOMPLISHES. "so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11) Rest in the promises of God and believe them. Believe that He is good and that He loves you.

Do you know how much He loves you?
When you despised, beat, rejected, and killed Him...THAT is when He died for you! (Romans 5:8)
Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
His love for you does not change, it is the same always.
Do you believe that He will bring everything He started in you into completion? (Philippians 1:6).
Do you believe that He has a purpose for you and that it is good? (Jeremiah 29:11).
Do you believe He wants to grant you the desires of your heart? (Psalm 37:4).
Do you believe that He hears you when you pray? (Psalm 18:6)
Do you believe you can do the impossible with God? (Psalm 18:29, Mark 10:27)

The first step in carrying the hope of Jesus Christ into a broken world and telling people about Him is by believing Him and receiving Him first ourselves. Our testimony will be much more powerful if we live and walk in these promises and truths. The better we know God, the better we will be able to tell others about Him. How thankful are you that we have the Bible to tell us about God? How thankful are you that we have Jesus Christ, who made the invisible God visible! (Colossians 1:15). Press in to God's Word, daily, continually...seek His presence and His strength everyday (1 Chronicles 16:11). That is how we mobilize ourselves to be a generation going into the world to spread the hope, love, and salvation of Jesus Christ.